Apparatus for electronically determining whether a tax for a product has been paid

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for electronically determining whether a tax or duty has been paid for the contents of that container. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is placed on the container which includes information indicative of whether the tax has been paid. The RFID tag includes a substrate, a radio frequency transceiver circuit mounted upon the substrate and connected to an antenna having a fixed length that is also mounted upon the substrate, and, preferably, a protrusion affixed to or a slot in the substrate. Preferably, the RFID tag is placed within the container&#39;s cap, such that, when mounted on the container, the cap mates with a ratchet wheel connected to the container that engages the protrusion or slot such that removing the cap from the container will cause the substrate to fracture and thereby cause the RFID tag to become permanently disabled.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/779,517 filed on Feb. 13, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,048,179 which, inturn, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/734,813, which was filed on Dec. 12, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,061,382and is entitled “APPARATUS FOR ELECTRONICALLY VERIFYING THE AUTHENTICITYOF CONTENTS WITHIN A CONTAINER.”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to an apparatus that electronicallydetermines whether a tax for a product has been paid. In addition, itcan verify the authenticity of the contents within a container closedwith a cap or other closure, such as a bottle, and automatically disableitself when first opened.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many types of valuable consumer products are produced surreptitiously bycounterfeit producers and inserted at some point into the legitimatesupply chain. The alcoholic beverage industry is especially plagued bycounterfeit producers. The legitimate suppliers of the packaging forthese products have been unable to produce, at reasonable cost,packaging which cannot be reproduced by the counterfeiters.Consequently, counterfeit goods are virtually indistinguishable from thelegitimate goods without directly examining the contents of such goods,which requires actually opening the packaging of such goods. In the caseof most goods, and especially beverages and other foodstuffs, openingthe packaging renders the goods worthless since they can not be resold.

Another problem associated with the sale of the alcoholic beverages isinsuring that the tax or duty has been paid each bottle sold. It hasbeen estimated that many millions of dollars of governmental revenuesare lost each year because required taxes are not paid. One solutioncurrently under discussion in the United Kingdom is to have stamps, inthe form of strips of paper, placed over the top of the bottle's packageto show that the tax has been paid for that package.

It is anticipated that radio frequency identification (“RFID”) devices(commonly called “RFID tags”) will soon replace bar codes as the chiefway to identify goods. An RFID tag is pre-encoded to include informationabout the associated product to which it is attached or to contain adistinctive identification code. When an RFID tag is interrogated by anexternal reader, it will provide a radio signal containing thatpre-encoded data. Thus, for example, a code can be encoded within theRFID tag that defines the product during checkout and this informationcan be read (instead of a bar code) to determine the type of goodS andcalculate its price (which is either also encoded in the RFID tag orstored in a main database and obtained based upon the product code).However, a great deal of concern has arisen recently relative to privacyissues because conventional RFID tags continue to be active long after aproduct has been purchased. This means that third parties can continueto read the information in the RFID tag for the life of the product, forexample, allowing these third parties to generate information about aperson's shopping tendencies without their knowledge.

As a result, although RFID tags can be used to distinguish betweenlegitimate goods and counterfeit goods because the counterfeit goodswill not include valid RFID tags because of the difficulty inreproducing RFID tags, the use of such RFID tags on goods is likely toraise privacy concerns if the RFID tag remains active for the life ofthe product.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an RFID tag for analcoholic beverage package which can be programmed to verify that anyapplicable tax or duty for that package has been paid.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedapparatus and method for verifying the authenticity of the contents of acontainer which can not be easily duplicated by counterfeiters and whichis permanently disabled upon the opening of the container for the firsttime.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedapparatus and method for verifying the authenticity of the contents of acontainer which can also be permanently disabled electronically.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an apparatus for use in verifying the paymentof taxes or duties for the contents of a sealed container. The apparatuscomprises a radio frequency identification tag that includes a radiofrequency transceiver circuit adapted to transmit a signal upon receiptof a transmit command and mounted upon a substrate. The radio frequencyidentification tag is mounted on the container and includes informationindicative of the payment of a tax for the container.

In accordance with one presently preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the apparatus comprises a radio frequency identification tagincluding information indicative that the tax for the contents of thecontainer has been paid comprising a substrate, a radio frequencytransceiver circuit adapted to transmit a signal upon receipt of atransmit command and mounted upon the substrate, an antenna having afixed length mounted upon the substrate and connected to the radiofrequency transceiver circuit, and a first interconnection means affixedto the substrate. The apparatus further contains a cap for the containerhaving a cylindrical portion, a closed end of the cylindrical portionand an open end of the cylindrical portion, the radio frequencyidentification tag mounted on an inner surface of the cylindricalportion of the cap adjacent to the closed end such that the firstinterconnection means faces centrally inward. Finally, the apparatuscontains a second interconnection means mounted on the container forengaging the first interconnection means when the cap is installed onthe container such that removing the cap from the container will exertforce on the substrate resulting in the fracture of the substratethereby causing the radio frequency identification tag to becomepermanently disabled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as thedetails of the illustrative embodiments, will be more fully understoodby reference to the following portion of the specification, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective exploded view, FIG. 1B is a perspective viewand FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus according to thepresent invention;

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are front, top and side views, respectively, of theRFID tag of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are side and top views, respectively, of the bottleinsert assembly of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are side and top views of the central column portion ofthe bottle insert assembly of the present invention, FIGS. 4C and 4D areside and top views of the plain disc portion of the bottle insertassembly of the present invention and FIGS. 4E and 4F are side and topviews, respectively, of the ratchet wheel portion of the bottle insertassembly of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are bottom and side views of the bottle cap of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the bottle cap of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to an apparatus for verifying the paymentof taxes or duties for the contents of a container, and is based uponthe inclusion of an RFID tag associated with the container. The RFID tagcontains an electronic code which contains information indicatingwhether a duty has been paid for the product associated with such RFIDtag, e.g., a bottle of spirits. The RFID tag may also be programmed toinclude identification of the contents as well as other informationrelevant to supply chain operations. An interrogator is used tocommunicate with the RFID tag and may be a portable hand-held device ormay be built into a computer, cash register, security exit, or the like.Whereas large counterfeiting operations in various countries are able tomanufacture bottles, bottle caps, plastic bottle inserts, and labelsthat closely resemble authentic packaging, those same counterfeitingoperations cannot afford the cost of developing the small, highlyintegrated radio chip. The RFID system may work at any of a variety ofradio frequencies; however, the microwave frequency 2.45 Gigahertz ispresently preferred because its smaller wavelength results in a shorterantenna and thus a smaller tag than lower frequency RFID tags. Inaddition, this microwave frequency has the advantage of being approvedin most countries of the world for RFID applications. Furthermore, RFIDdevices that operate at 2.45 GHz are produced and marketed by severalcompanies worldwide. Finally, the use of the spread-spectrumcommunications protocol and special code strategies for the informationstored in the RFID tags effectively blocks counterfeiters from creatingcounterfeit or black-market RFID tags in order to avoid the payment oftaxes or duties. Preferably, the RFID tag is mounted in the containercap (or other closure) and will be read by RFID interrogators used bylegitimate organizers of the supply chain. When the cap is installed onthe container there is an interconnection between the cap and thecontainer such that when the cap is first removed from the container theRFID tag is disabled.

FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view, FIG. 1B is a perspective viewand FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of a presently preferredembodiment of the present invention. A bottle 100 includes threads 120for securing a bottle cap over mouth 110 thereof. According to thispresently preferred embodiment of the invention, bottle 100 is fittedwith a tubular, preferably plastic, bottle insert 200, that is tightlyfitted into the mouth 110 of bottle 100. Bottle insert 200 includes aratchet wheel 240. Thereafter, bottle 100 is fitted with a cap 300, alsopreferably of plastic, that screws onto threads 120. Cap 300 includes anRFID tag 310 mounted near the closed end of cap 300 such that it islongitudinally aligned with the ratchet wheel 240 when cap 300 isscrewed tightly onto bottle 100, with a cylindrical catch 318 mounted onRFID tag 310 interlocked with one of the plurality of ratchets onratchet wheel 240 (as specifically shown in FIG. 1B).

One embodiment of an RFID tag 310 adapted for use in the presentinvention is shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C. As shown in FIG. 2A, the mainelectronic components of RFID tag 310 include a radio frequencyintegrated circuit (RFIC) 312 and an antenna 316. Antenna 316 ispreferably a copper pattern consisting of two portions, although thoseof skill in the art will recognize that other materials and patterns maybe used. Each portion of antenna 316 is bonded to a thin semi-flexiblesubstrate 315 which, preferably, is composed of a type of fiberglassthat is non-absorptive of the radio signal. RFIC 312 typically isattached directly to the antenna using a “flip chip” process that iswell known to those of skill in the art of integrated circuitfabrication technology. Although not shown in FIG. 2A, as shown in FIGS.2B and 2C, RFIC 312 is protectively supported by an epoxy coating 314.In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the top surface of RFID tag310 is preferably laminated with a plastic coating 313 to protectantenna 316. Such RFIC chips mounted on a substrate and sufficientlysmall for use in the present invention are currently marketed by severalvendors, e.g., Intermec Technologies Corporation, Alien TechnologyCorporation, SCS Corporation, and Hitachi Ltd. Preferably, the RFID tagselected for use includes the capability to be permanently disabled byreceipt of a command from an external communicator, so that, forexample, the RFID tag can be disabled at checkout. As stated above, thesmallest RFID tags operate at the 2.45 GHz radio frequency, which isaccepted by most countries of the world for RFID applications.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, as shown in FIG. 2A, alateral perforation 319 is provided near RFIC 312 so that if both endsof RFID tag 310 are pulled in opposite directions with sufficienttension, RFID tag 310 will tear at lateral perforation 319, therebyseparating a significant part of the antenna 316 from RFIC 312. Thisseparation renders RFID tag 310 permanently inoperable. Perforation 319in RFID tag 310 may be off-center, as it is shown in FIG. 2A.Alternatively, in configurations where RFID chip 312 is mounted in ahole (not shown) in the substrate 315 of RFID tag 310, perforation 319is unnecessary because the hole provided for RFIC 312 will be theweakest point mechanically of RFID tag 310 when no perforation 319 ispresent. RFID tag 310 will thus naturally fracture at the location ofRFIC 312 in this configuration. This fracture location, at RFIC 312, ispresently preferred because it results in more complete disablement ofRFID tag 310 since there will no connection whatsoever to at least oneof the two portions of antenna 316. In addition, with thisconfiguration, it is also possible that when the RFID tag 310 is damagedby opening the bottle, RFIC 312 could be damaged also contributing tothe permanent disablement of the RFID tag 310.

In a presently preferred embodiment, RFID tag 310 further includes aprotrusion in the form of a cylindrical catch 318 that is bonded closeto an end thereof. Preferably, cylindrical catch 318 is bonded to RFIDtag 310 on the side opposite to the side on which antenna 316 ismounted. Cylindrical catch 318 is preferably formed from a flexiblematerial in a hollow tubular form. As discussed in more detail below,cylindrical catch 318 is part of the mechanism by which RFID tag 310 ismechanically disabled when bottle cap 300 is unscrewed from bottle 100for the first time after being sealed at the bottling facility. In analternative embodiment, RFID tag 310 includes a slot in substrate 315instead of catch 318. The formation of the slot in this alternativeembodiment is discussed in further detail below.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, bottle insert 200 includes a centralcolumn 210 having an outside diameter at the surface 211 that is largeenough to cause a tight fit when it is pressed into bottle 100 (FIG. 1).It is necessary that the fit be sufficiently tight so as to preventbottle insert 200 from rotating inside bottle 100 when cap 300 isremoved for the first time. Optionally, one or more narrow longitudinalcuts 250 may be made through a wall of central column 260 to providesome stress relief as bottle insert 200 is pressed into bottle 100.Also, there may be two or more radial rib members (not shown) supportingthe wall of central column 260 that allow it to flex locally as bottleinsert 200 enters bottle 100, and then to expand as bottle insert 200passes the narrowest diameter of mouth 110 of bottle 100. Since mostbottles for alcoholic beverages are tapered on the inside, with theorifice being the smallest inside diameter, as seen in FIG. 4A, ashallow narrowing in the area 270 of central column 260 may preferablybe provided to conform to the tapered orifice of bottle 100, thusproviding increased friction between bottle insert 200 and bottle 100.As recognized by those of skill in the art, various other techniques maybe used to ensure that bottle insert 200 fits tightly in mouth 110 ofbottle 100.

Bottle insert 200 preferably includes two discs 220 and 230 and ratchetwheel 240 that are pressed or bonded onto the top end of the centralcolumn 260. Discs 220 and 230 fit on either side of ratchet wheel 240.Plain disc 220 is mounted below ratchet wheel 240 and acts as a spacermechanism to separate ratchet wheel 240 from mouth 110 of bottle 100 andto provide a mechanical buffer that prevents damage to ratchet wheel 240when bottle insert 200 is pressed into bottle 100. Upper plain disc 230provides a pouring surface which may preferably be contoured to providevarious improvements in pouring the contents from bottle 100, althoughthese contours are not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

As one of skill in the art will readily recognize, although bottleinsert 200 is shown as formed from four parts, bottle insert 200 mayalso be manufactured as a single molded part or the central column 210may be combined with lower plain disc 220 and ratchet wheel 240 to forma single molded component to which top disc 230 is attached duringassembly. Alternatively, as one of skill in the art will readilyrecognize, one or both of plain discs 220 and 230 may also beeliminated. In addition, it is possible that the ratchet wheel or otherprotrusions could be formed directly on bottle 100 between threads 120and mouth 110.

Ratchet wheel 240 operates as a conventional ratchet wheel and providesa ratchet action in combination with the catch 318. Ratchet wheel 240allows cap 300 to be twisted onto bottle 100, which conventionally has aright-handed thread 120, because catch 318 attached to the RFID tag 310forces the serrations on ratchet wheel 240 inward. However, when anattempt is made to remove cap 300 from bottle 100, a counterclockwisetorque will be applied to cap 300, pressing catch 318 against one of theserrations on ratchet wheel 240. As the torque is increased on cap 300,catch 318 will, in effect, pull on one end of RFID tag 310 while theopposite end of RFID tag 310 is permanently affixed to cap 300,eventually causing RFID tag 310 to break at perforation 319 (or, in theevent that no perforation is provided, at the weakest point of substrate316). As one of ordinary skill will readily recognize, the form andnumber of the ratchets on ratchet wheel 240 or other protrusions are notsignificant so long as they do not interact with substrate 315 when cap300 is being installed on bottle 100 and interact with substrate 315when cap 300 is being removed from bottle 100. In the alternativeembodiment where RFID tag 310 includes a slot instead of catch 318, theratchets on ratchet wheel 240 or other protrusions extend outward beyondthe outer circumference of bottle 100 at mouth 110 such that theratchets or other protrusions contact cap 300. In this alternativeembodiment, the indentation on RFID tag 310 is formed so that theratchets on ratchet wheel 240 or other protrusions pass over when cap300 is being installed on bottle 100, but they do not pass over theindentation when cap 300 is being removed from bottle 100. In bothembodiments, the result is the same, removal of cap 300 for the firsttime generates a lateral force along RFID tag 310 that results in thefracture of substrate 318 and total disablement of RFID tag 310.

FIG. 5 shows how RFID tag 310 is mounted in cap 300. Cap 300 preferablyincludes a recess 340 between an end of internal thread 320 and theinside end 330. Recess 340 is only slightly wider than RFID tag 310.During manufacture of cap 300, RFID tag 310 is installed in recess 340and permanently affixed to cap 300 at an end 350 of RFID tag 310opposite end at which catch 318 is mounted. RFID tag 310 is orientedupon installation such that as cap 300 is screwed onto bottle 100, theserrations on bottle insert 200 pass over catch 318 and also push RFIDtag 310 into a slight compression against the walls of cap 300. When cap300 is screwed tightly onto the bottle, the serrations on ratchet wheel240 will line up longitudinally with the catch 318 on RFID tag 310. Atsome later time, when cap 300 is unscrewed from bottle 100 for the firsttime, the serrations on bottle insert 200 will snag on catch 318 asdiscussed above and the torque on cap 300 will apply a longitudinalforce along the length of RFID tag 310, essentially stretching RFID tag310 along its longitudinal axis and causing RFID tag 310 to break intotwo parts, either at perforation 319, if present, or at some other weakpoint of RFID tag 310, e.g., at the RFIC 312 mounting point. Breaking ofRFID tag 310 into two parts will permanently disable RFID tag 310because it will no longer be able to communicate due to a significantchange in the characteristics of antenna 316.

As shown in FIG. 6, to prevent RFID tag 310 from falling loose from cap300 as it is removed from bottle 100 (and possibly falling into thecontents of bottle 100 if the throat of bottle insert 200 is notconstricted), a thin, sliding band 360, preferably formed of plastic,may optionally be inserted inside cap 300 to cover RFID tag 310. Thisplastic band is not shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. Sliding band 360 includes ahole 362 that allows catch 318 (or the slot in the alternativeembodiment) to engage the ratchet wheel 240. When cap 300 is removed andRFID tag 310 separates, e.g., at perforation 319, band 360 travelsfreely in groove 340 of cap 300 as it is dragged by catch 318 whichprotrudes through hole 362 in band 360. In this manner, RFID tag 310remains behind band 360 and inside cap 300 upon opening of bottle 100for the first time.

Although the present invention has been shown and described with respectto preferred embodiments, various changes and modifications can be madewhich lie within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example,those skilled in the art will recognize that the RFID tag could beplaced in different locations and many other forms of RFID structurescould be used. In addition, various types of structures can be used toprovide an interconnection between the cap and container such that whenthe cap is first removed, the RFID tag will become disabled. Thus,numerous changes and modifications can be made while staying within thescope of the invention which is set forth in the appended claims.

1. An apparatus for use in tracking whether a tax has been paid for aclosed container, comprising: a container; a cap for closing saidcontainer; a radio frequency identification tag comprising a substratemounted on an inner surface of said cap and a radio frequencytransceiver circuit adapted to transmit a signal upon receipt of atransmit command and mounted upon said substrate, said radio frequencyidentification tag containing information indicating whether the tax forsaid container has been paid; and an engagement member interconnectingsaid substrate mounted on said inner surface of said cap and saidcontainer such that removing said cap from said container results insaid radio frequency identification tag becoming permanentiy disabled.2. The apparatus of claim 1, whereby the removal of said cap results inthe fracture of said substrate thereby causing said radio frequency tagto become permanently disabled.